Page 54 of Wings of Deception
Chaos reigns outside as students and faculty run in varying directions, but I can’t see anything more than their frantic movements. What the hell is going on?
Panic wells inside me, and I rush out of the library, wanting to find out what has everyone so scared. Before I even make it through the lobby door, though, I see them.
Demons fly toward us like a storm cloud, their massive, bat-like wings seeming to block out the sun and throw us into darkness. One lands inside the gate, rushing directly for Knowledge house. I can’t move. As hard as I try, my legs refuse to cooperate. It’s like I’m standing in cement that’s already dried and all I can do is watch as the demon gets closer, locking in on its target — a student.
In the maelstrom, I can’t make out who it is before they take to the sky, doing the exact fucking thing the Guild told us not to. Everyone knows demons are far better in the air than we are. Not that we’re weak, but over the course of our history, we’ve learned the hard way that angels can’t outfly demons. Something in their genetic makeup gives them more speed and precision in the air than even we have.
The poor student doesn’t make it very far before the demon slams into him and sharp, claw-like wingtips dig into flesh, then the pair fall to the ground in a heap. I want to help him, but I can’t make my limbs move. Images and emotions from a time long since passed resurface, consuming everything around me until it’s like I’m back there in that skatepark.
I fight the memories back and push out of the lobby and onto the gravel walkway as more demons flood through the academy, tackling the ignorant students trying to flee and fighting them on the ground. Three run straight for me and, just as I fear they’ll slice me to pieces, I remember my training.
I dodge their slashes with ease, getting in a few jabs of my own that have the wretched beings snarling with rage. This is wrong. It shouldn’t be this easy for me to defend myself, even with as much training and practice as I have.
They take turns attacking me, and it almost feels like they’re toying with me. If they wanted me dead, all they’d have to do is attack as a unit. Sure, I’d put up a fight, but without a weapon, I’m no match for three synchronized demons. As savage as we might think they are, these creatures have just as much training as we do. Why are they going easy on me?
With quick reflexes, I have one of the bastards in a chokehold as I try to snap its fucking neck while it claws at my arms, leaving deep, red gashes on my flesh. When I succeed, the other two creatures share a glance before rushing off in the other direction. What the hell?
Before I can think about it more, another demon falls from the sky with an angel clasped in its claw-tipped fingers. Blood pools beneath him, the metallic tang tainting my lungs and almost throwing me backward in time to another night just like this one.
Moving on instinct, I knock the demon off before he can deal the killing blow. It roars at me, spittle flying into my face before we face off. There, along the curve of its jaw, is an all-too-familiar scar. Fear climbs through my veins until I step back, but then I blink and the scar is gone.Fuck. Now is not the time for my mind to be playing tricks on me.
I steady myself, trying to calm the panic inside before it gets me killed. I dodge a vicious blow but stumble as I twist out of reach. This demon moves differently than the others. His attacks are far more aggressive. Exactly like I’d expect them all to behave. It comes at me with brutal strikes that require every ounce of skill I have just to avoid. If it keeps up like this, I’ll tire before it does.
The more we fight, the more the flashbacks threaten to take me under, even though this situation is nothing like the one from when I was fifteen. Maybe it’s the demon’s violence that reminds me so vividly of that night. The way it swipes its claws through the air, hoping to rip flesh and spill blood.
On the ground, the bloody student whimpers and causes the demon to look his way hungrily, creating a distraction. With no weapon and my memories rushing to the surface, I won’t survive this creature. I look around for something I can use, and a barbaric grin spreads across my face. The student wails again, claiming the demon’s full focus. Without a moment’s hesitation, I act, using the power inside of me to telekinetically uproot a fucking tree and whack him with enough strength that the impact launches him away from us.
Darkness descends, my vision narrowing as I drop to my knees on the grass. My hands feel wet where they rest on the ground, and I struggle to breathe. I wipe them off on my pants, wanting the icky feeling to go away, but that only streaks them with red. Bloody handprints line my jeans, tricking my mind into the past once more. Back to another night with bloody handprints and puddles of red. But this time, it’s not pooled beneath some random student. It’s her. The angel I got killed.
A warm hand touches my shoulder and I jerk back, throwing a punch toward whatever creature wants to harm me. But what I hear isn’t any demon. It’s the deep, rich voice that always seems to pull me from my panic.
I blink, trying to clear the fog from my brain, and Raphael finally comes into focus.
“Raph.” I tremble like a terrified little boy.
“You hurt?” he asks, checking my body for injury.
“Not physically.”
His eyes light up with panic at the sight of the blood on my pants, and I rush to reassure him.
“It’s not mine.”
“Good. I grabbed this from your room. The entire fucking school needs our help, Theo. Think you can manage it?” He hands me a dagger, the one I never go to sleep without.
I take it from him, relief rushing through me at the familiar feel of it in my grip. With one more deep breath, I stand, feeling more confident now that I have a weapon in my hand.
My friend has his own makeshift weapon. The iron leg of a chair, I think. Or maybe a bench? Whatever it is, I’m glad to see he’ll at least be able to defend himself. He can fill me in on where the fuck he got it after we survive.If we survive.
“Let’s make these fuckers pay.”
25
Ademonshootsfromthe sky, obliterating one of the benches that surround the bonfire. Motherfucker. It’s not that I have any kind of love for that bench, but I had plans to bring Hayliel here after midterms. We would celebrate our victory with s’mores, and I’d finger her beneath the blanket while she’d try to be quiet in order for us not to get caught. Now this asshole demon ruined it.
I dodge one of the creature’s long arms, barely avoiding getting cut open by their claws, when another demon lands. Soon, there are five brutes gnashing their sharp teeth at me. One turns away, sensing a group of students rushing to the arena, and suddenly all five of them move to attack the others. What the fuck am I? Chopped liver? These dickheads must enjoy the chase.
Scrambling forward, I grab some of the broken wood and toss it at their backs, hitting one of them on its horned head. They all turn, growls building in their chests. Well, I certainly have their attention now.